Canadian distributors immediately recalled the contaminated products. But the juice remained in a handful of stores, officials say. The two victims remain in hospital in serious condition, Govani said. Juice remaining in their carrot juice bottles was found to contain the botulism toxin.

Although contaminated products were distributed across the country, cases of the toxin have only been confirmed in Toronto.

Botulism can cause nausea, fatigue, double-vision, paralysis and respiratory failure. In severe cases, the toxin can be fatal. It can be treated with an antitoxin to prevent further paralysis, but any paralysis that has already occurred cannot be medically reversed.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning linking four cases of botulism to carrot juice. The U.S. cases first appeared in September, with one woman in Florida suffering paralysis after drinking the juice.